SUPERNOVA

SUPERNOVA is organized into two-semester modules:

• The Spring semester (applications from July to October) – Classes between February and June.
• The Fall semester (applications from January to April) – Classes between September and January 

Candidates will follow two semesters of classes under SUPERNOVA, instead of only one, under the following circumstances:

1. By request of the candidate;
2. If the candidate applied for a Math based course and does not pass the face-to-face Mathematics test with a minimum score of 13 out of 20, an additional semester is required to attend Introductory Mathematics, and then proceed to the regular Mathematics course.
3. Under the recommendation of the Admissions Committee;
4. If the candidate does not pass the required courses after completing the first semester.

Candidates who need a longer adjustment period will likely have to complete two semesters in SUPERNOVA. The student will only be able to enroll in the second semester after the settlement of the enrollment fee and final payment. For more information, please check the fees page.

Candidates who opt to take the program online will necessarily have to pass an interview at the end of the program with the team of the Program Committee they intend to join at the undergraduate level.

• SUPERNOVA offers semester courses taught by highly specialized academics from six different Schools at NOVA University:
• NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT)
• Information Management School (NOVA IMS)
• School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH)
• NOVA Medical School (NMS)
• NOVA School of Law (NOVA Law)
• NOVA School of Business and Economics (NOVA SBE)

• Prepare the pathway for an international University degree.
• Prepare the transition to the European university system by increasing autonomy and adjusting working methods.
• Improve or acquire Portuguese and English language competencies.
• Facilitate the subsequent entrance into one of the academic programmes at NOVA or its partner Universities
• Access optional courses in different academic areas.
• Live in Lisbon, Portugal, a city with a top quality of life in one of the safest countries in the world.

Step 1: Online Application

The application is done through an online form and requires the upload of the following documents:

• Motivation letter
• Recommendation letter (optional).
• High School diploma or an official declaration from the School attesting when the candidate will be finishing High school.
• Transcript of records with a full list of courses and corresponding grades*
• Passport copy.
• Certificate of Language Proficiency in English and/or Portuguese (optional).

After submission, the candidate will receive an email acknowledging receipt of documents and providing instructions for enrolment fee payment. 

* Students who are still finishing High School by the time of application must submit the Diploma that proves they finished High School (or a legally equivalent document) by the end of the first month of classes of SUPERNOVA. 

Step 2: Analysis

The Admissions Committee is formed by the program’s international recruiters, and coordinated by the Vice-Rector for International Development and Education.

After reviewing all application elements, the Selection Committee makes the final decision and informs candidates by email.

Step 3: Admission tests

Candidates interested in following math-based courses must take a mathematical admission test in two phases. The first phase is an online test to determine if the candidate moves on to the interview. The second phase is an additional face-to-face evaluation at the beginning of the programme. Candidates interested in following chemistry-based courses will be submitted to a Chemistry diagnostic test.

Candidates with a specific interest in Economics, Management must take the final microeconomics and math exams face-to-face at the end of the programme, in Lisbon while candidates with a particular interest in Data Science, Information Management and Information Systems must take the final math exam face-to-face at the end of the programme, in Lisbon.

Step 3.1: Math Test

Please find below a list of the main topics of this exam:

• Basic logic, universal and existential quantifiers. 
• Sets (reunion, intersection, set minus, complement). 
• Operations with real numbers. 
• Solving analytically simple algebraic equations in IR (no trigonometry) involving polynomials of degree up to 3, modulus, logarithms and exponentials. 
• Factorization of polynomials (cases that can be solved analytically). 
• Sequences- Definition, monotonicity, bounded sequences and limits. 
• Functions – Basic definitions (odd, even, injective, surjective, local and global extreme points, monotonicity), domain, composition, inverse, continuity and differentiability. Consider also stepwise functions. 

Approval in each mathematics admission test requires a grade equal to or greater than 10 (out of 20).

Step 4: Interview

After passing the admission tests, all applicants are invited for an interview by the Admissions Committee to review the information provided in the application. The interviews will be conducted online.

Step 5: Enrolment 

After the interview, if accepted, applicants will receive an email from the Admissions Committee informing them about their application results.  

Step 6: Registration

Once participation in the program is confirmed, students will be contacted by NOVA with instructions for paying the Programme’s final fee. After settling this fee, students will receive information about the start of classes, timetables, school calendars, etc. 

All our communications are sent to the email that the candidate gave on the application form. Applicants are responsible for checking their email accounts regularly (including spam and junk boxes). 

The non-compliance to SUPERNOVA’s team and Consular services requests could lead to not receiving the required Visa in time, which SUPERNOVA does not take responsibility for. 

Note: Visas must be requested up until 60 days before the start of classes, the 30th of November for Spring editions and the 30th of May for fall editions, respectively. The non-compliance to SUPERNOVA’s team and Consular services requests could lead to not receiving the required Visa in time, which SUPERNOVA does not take responsibility for.

Programme Cost

• Application fee: €70*
• Enrolment fee: €500* (Upon acceptance)
• Final fee: €3000* (30 days before classes start)

*All fees are non-refundable (including cases of visa requests denied)

Program Cost Includes:

• Tuition fees
• Costs of all appropriate teaching, supervision, assessment, and examinations related to the programme.
• Pre-requisite: language exams
• Language courses: Portuguese or English
• Program administration
• The Face-to-face Program gives you access to some important services and facilities that you will find useful throughout your time at SUPERNOVA.
• The Online Program includes additional online question-solving sessions.

Program Cost does not include: (Expenses not required for the Online Program)

The following expenses are not included in the cost of the program so students will need to prepare for these:

Pre-Departure Expenses:

• Airfare Ticket
• Travel Medical Insurance
• Visa Permits

Overseas Expenses:

• Cost of Airport reception, transfer and return transportation to the airport
• Daily living expenses: Accommodation, Meals, transportation
• Academic Material
• Leisure activities, etc.

Additional Information

Total expenses vary by student and are subject to change depending on currency fluctuations and personal habits. The approximate cost is 650 € monthly per student if you get a place in a University Residence; if it is in a Private T1 apartment you can increase the values up to 3.3 times.